ER the T.V. Show

[sunnyjohn]

Hello,

I know most healthcare people are not very fond of E.R., but I ws just wondering if anybody watched the last episode. The lady from "Sex and the Cityy" was a guest star. She played a stroke victim.

I really thought that it showed the difference between the nurse and the doctor during that episode. Even though the doctor spoke to the patient, it was the nurse who seemed to be able to "read" the stroke victim's mind, even though the pateint couldn't say a word.

Would anyone agree with that assesment? (Or do most of you think it was way off base?)

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Right, I remember that Abby had always planned to be a doctor and that nursing was just to make money in the meantime. Kind of like how "Doctor Dave" had been a parametic to put himself through medical school a few years back. And wasn't there a chracter on St. Elsewhere who was a janitor who put himself through medical school? Was that Howie Mandell's character or Denzel Washington's?

I loved the episode of Scrubs where Turk "surprised" Carla with a bus pass to get to school, so she could go study to be a nurse practitioner. He was assuming that she didn't want to be "just a nurse" anymore. She pretty much reemed him out for it, because she LOVES being a nurse. And they do a good job of showing how nurses are just as smart as doctors, and how nurses are the backbone of patient care.

Pretty sad when I think that Scrubs portrays nurses better than ER, LOL.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I can't watch it. Way too insulting to the profession. I sit there and I wonder why the nursing profession isn't interesting enough to be done right?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I can't watch it. Way too insulting to the profession. I sit there and I wonder why the nursing profession isn't interesting enough to be done right?

The Center for Nursing Advocacy has had a letter-writing campaign to the writers and producers of ER for more than a year. The issues they are tackling are the same as I've seen mentioned here. If you feel really strongly about the image of nursing in the media, maybe you'd like to get involved.

http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/

[sarita279]

Abby says that going to med school was always the plan. she only went into nursing to put her husband through med school and then when he was done he was going to put her through med school but they got divorced. in their agreement he was supposed to pay her tution but he didn't so she had to quit for awhile.

Because apparently going to nursing school doesn't take any time and money, unlike med school?

Do they think a nursing degree is just some sort of weekend certification course?

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Because apparently going to nursing school doesn't take any time and money, unlike med school?

Do they think a nursing degree is just some sort of weekend certification course?

Well, they both needed Bachelor's degrees to get into medical school, so the time and money involved in getting that is a moot point. They probably just decided for her to major in nursing so she could start working right away after school, while he went right into med school, and then if four years when he'd be making (little, but some) money as a resident, she could quit nursing and start med school. The decision for her to go into nursing as opposed to something else was probably based on lots of things - she was obviously interested in the medical field, so why not major in something medical, the job market being good for nurses, the money nurses make, etc.

I'm just guessing, after all this is a TV show, but in my mind it actually makes sense.

[skanded]

I have the episode Tivo'd, hoping to watch it tonight. :)

Susan

Nursery RN

[girlfromtx]

Hey all. I LOVE the E.R. I catch it during the day after morning class and have just recently started to watch it monday nights. I saw the episode with the stroke patient and it did kind of annoy me when the whole "shes just a nurse thing" went down. I agree that society looks down upon nurses because when I was researching career options for me, I too looked down upon them. Not until I started doing more and more research about the nursing profession and actually shadowed a nurse did I realize that nursing is made up of special people who take that "road less traveled" and dedicate themselves to the well-being of others. I used to think that to have an established and respected career a doctor was the only way to go. But now I know WAY better, and fully respect what a nurse does. (still many kudos to Docs. it couldn't be done without 'em!) Well, Im done ranting. LOL. Have a good day everyone!

After the show aired I called my sister and griped about the comment. Her response was "Well it's true isn't it? Nurses don't know about the diseases." Grrrr, I set her straight! But like the poster of this quote, I also "looked down" on the nursing profession before I looked into it as a career. I was all set in my honors college with high grades, looking into medical school, when I didn't think I wanted to go to that much school, so I chose nursing. I love my decision now, but hate the public misconceptions about nurses, but how can I blame them? I had the same ideas about the profession before I actually seriously looked into it and spent a lot of time on these boards...

[steelcityrn, RN]

I would rather watch scrubs myself....more realistic :chuckle :rotfl:

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I would rather watch scrubs myself....more realistic :chuckle :rotfl:

Plus it's the funniest show on TV these days!

Any show that would name a dead stuffed dog "Rowdy" has my vote.

[MryRose]

I would rather watch scrubs myself....more realistic :chuckle :rotfl:

Oh I totally can't stand that show!!! What kind of drugs are those writers on?????? My Hubby laughs and laughs and I just roll my eyes... kinda on the same wavelength as the 3 stooges to me.

I have been hooked on ER since the first season.... I too miss Dr Green. I do like how they have finally opened up his wifes personality tho.

And can Kovach get any cuter????????????? whoooooo !

[KrisRNwannabe]

I am hooked on House. I really like it. but then I watch it for what it is.....ENTERTAINMENT. I understand that some people are offended by the things on the show. but in my opinion there are more important causes for me to devote some of my time too. but that is my opinion. if you feel differently, I totally respect your opinions!

Kris

[kirbi]

It does kinda give folks the impression that there is only one nurse in the whole ER and that the place is swarming with docs who do pretty much everything, including occasionally following their patients home to make sure they are taking their meds.

Now, in REAL LIFE, I had an ER doc call me on the phone the next day to explain some test results and tell me how important it was that I take the medication he was prescribing for me, which was rather shocking. But, if he had showed up on my door step, I'm pretty sure I would fainted dead away.

kirbi